Sins Beta 2 FAQ

from Sins Forums

As we move into Beta 2 there will probably be some recurring questions that I felt would best be addressed with a single thread. As more common questions pop-up, I'll add them to this FAQ.

  • Can I just upgrade over Beta 1 or should I reinstall the game from scratch?

You will need to wipe out the first Beta of Sins entirely from your system by first uninstalling the game via Stardock Central, then deleting your Ironclad Games directory located at:

C:\Documents and Settings\

If you try upgrading over Beta 1 you will get version mismatch errors when trying to run the game.

  • Will my Beta 1 save games be compatible with Beta 2?

No, you should delete all prior save games. As with Beta 1, expect save games to break between updates.

  • What's the purpose of Beta 2?

Beta 2 is the single-player gameplay test for Sins. Most of the gameplay for Sins will be present for testing and balancing during this phase of the beta test. That said, if you run into technical problems we still want to hear about those.

  • Is Beta 2 still TEC-only? When do we get to see the other races?

Beta 2 will continue to reveal only the TEC, but will contain nearly all of that race's ships/structures. It hasn't been determined when or if the other two races will make an appearance for the beta test, but we'll know more around Beta 3.

  • I thought we saw core gameplay in Beta 1?  What makes Beta 2 so special?

Only the basics were released for Beta 1. If you took part in it, Beta 2 will seem totally different in many ways. As such I recommend going through all four tutorials that will come in Beta 2. These will step you through the changes to the concepts from Beta 1, but also introduce many of the new gameplay elements in Beta 2.

  • Pfft! What's really in Beta 2?!

On the short list: Four tutorials (two all-new), a new class of ships, new art and models for several structures/ships, an upgraded Bounty system, better AI, tweaked Phase Lane system, better ship balancing (capital ships will now be the rarities they've always been intended to be), better trade system, refined/updated economic model, all-new logistics system, tweaked culture/influence model, and lots more.

  • When is Beta 2 going to be released?

Beta 2 will be released on June 21st.  Stardock is in the Eastern Time Zone (GMT-5) so don't look for it at midnight.

  • How can I get in on Beta 2?

Anyone who pre-orders Sins of a Solar Empire before or for a short period after the release of Beta 2 may get in on the action. Pre-orders will be charged upon Beta 2's release. Once your pre-order has been charged you gain access to all of the Sins' betas and the final game. (Note: I'll be putting together a separate FAQ for sales questions.)

  • How do I download the Beta?  Can I get it on disc?

The Sins beta is only available through Stardock Central, our digital download manager and requires online activation. We are not providing copies of the beta on disc.

  • Have the system requirements changed since Beta 1?

No, the requirements remain the same.  Minimum: Windows XP SP2/Vista, 1.8 GHz CPU, 512 MB RAM (1 GB for Vista), 128 MB DirectX 9 3D Video Card, DirectX 9.0c or higher; Recommended: 2.4 GHz CPU, 1 GB RAM (2 GB RAM for Vista), 256 MB DirectX 9 3D Video Card.

  • Where can I find my save games in case I need to send them in to Ironclad?

XP: C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire
Vista: C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\

 

119,430 views 91 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
When is beta 3?

haha had to ask, nice work there Yarlen been working late today huh?

So are we gonna see the beta1 feedback posts deleted or unsticked? and ofcource new stickys for beta2?

Maybe a same addons?:
-Has the system requirements been raised since beta1?
-How big is the new update? and how much diskspace is required for the total installation?
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
a new class of ships????

So far we have frigates and capital ships, are you saying there is a whole other class say for example destroyer class ships? OMG now you got me wondering.....
Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Waaaa the forumz hate me as usual... Forgive the post spasm...

And the first question was my idea (no matter what YARLEN says, it came to me on IRC)
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
Waaaa the forumz hate me as usual... Forgive the post spasm...

cant you just edit the second post? instead of triple posting?

And the first question was my idea (no matter what YARLEN says, it came to me on IRC)

Sure, i "believe" you
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
great work Yarlen and thanks for putting the FAQ together, but i'd bet folks will forget to uninstall Beta 1
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
Well there were actually 3 posts, so I edited the 3rd so there wouldn't be a 4th post.

I think it has something to do with Firefox and my office proxy...

Some people work at night....

oooh my duplicate posts disappeared, like magic...
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
oooh my duplicate posts disappeared, like magic...

ITS KRYO MAGIC!!
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
in regards to: "(capital ships will now be the rarities they've always been intended to be)"

hmmm so you are saying... (capital ship popcap?)... this could make some interesting strategy...
Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
id guess that the cost and build time will increase, i would not be too keen on caps

whats left in ships? it would be nice if they increased the size of the kol (i know this has been discussed to death)

battlecruisers? destroyers? superheavy??

repair ships, defense monitors - heavily armed but very slow moving,

fireships of a kind - ships armed with nukes sent to blow up among an enemy fleet

shield gen ships, cloaked stealh ships, armed traders etc

who knows??

sounds good though

Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top

in regards to: "(capital ships will now be the rarities they've always been intended to be)"


Here! Here! I would be very curious to know some details about that statement. What's the scoop? Cap ship time to build going up; prices going up; or research requirements going up; or you can't tell us till Thursday?

I hope they get buffed up a bit since they will become rarer.
Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top

You'll find out on Thursday. There's no artificial population cap, per se, but capital ships are expensive. With additional ships to construct that can flesh out a fleet, capital ships become the anchors (i.e., commanders) and not the grunts.

Multi - The Beta 1 threads will be locked (a couple already are) and unstickied once Beta 2 is out.

Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top
battlecruisers? destroyers? superheavy??

repair ships, defense monitors - heavily armed but very slow moving,

fireships of a kind - ships armed with nukes sent to blow up among an enemy fleet

shield gen ships, cloaked stealh ships, armed traders etc


You forgot about COMANDOS!!!!! Although I don't see how they could be their own class...

Corvets? I dunno, if I had to guess, the catigory would be called "Support Ships."
Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top
This new class of ship, is it the last class or will their be other classes released.
Reply #14 from Sins Forums Top
DANG IT!!! I wanted to edit my post..... *Evil Glare at Lock_Eye*

Will Capital ships also be more powerful? It didn't seem like they did alot of damage in beta 1, maybe because their guns weren't loud/didn't fire fast/didn't fire from REALLY big guns.

O Yeah, since its beta 2, can we now edit the names of capitals and planets!!!?! I really want to name my flag ship "Bismark" after Otto von Bismark (just like the super German ship, even though it was sunk by biplanes.).
Reply #15 from Sins Forums Top
Thrawn has reveled his weakness, Biplanes... Now where could one get these in the dead of space?
Reply #16 from Sins Forums Top

You'll find out on Thursday. There's no artificial population cap, per se, but capital ships are expensive. With additional ships to construct that can flesh out a fleet, capital ships become the anchors (i.e., commanders) and not the grunts.


Multi - The Beta 1 threads will be locked (a couple already are) and unstickied once Beta 2 is out.




goodbye Beta 1 threads...... we hardly knew ye...
Reply #17 from Sins Forums Top
Capital ships start off more powerful than the smaller ships, however as they gain in level the amount of damage they can take and receive goes up. By level 10 they're all extremely powerful.
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
I repeat, any word for us modders?
Reply #19 from Sins Forums Top
Can't wait till Thursday. Over the weekend found Beta1 on my friends machine and ended up on a 12-hours-long conquest spree. Ended up preordering Sins this morning A game that even a beta state can keep me glued to the screen that long deserves all possible support. Great job guys!
Reply #20 from Sins Forums Top
"how extensively has the TEC been expanded"?
Reply #21 from Sins Forums Top

Can't wait till Thursday. Over the weekend found Beta1 on my friends machine and ended up on a 12-hours-long conquest spree. Ended up preordering Sins this morning A game that even a beta state can keep me glued to the screen that long deserves all possible support. Great job guys!


welcome! and just to think you liked Beta1 in the final stage when the ships moved ever so slowly in the gravity well. ( I personally didn't care for their slow movement, and constant collision with my planets... Beta 2 hopefully fixed those issues).



"how extensively has the TEC been expanded"?



|-------------------- This Much ----------------|
Reply #22 from Sins Forums Top

No word on the modding front right now.

Incidentally, we've discovered that updating over Beta 1 is bad mojo. Everyone will need to uninstall Beta 1 and delete their old Sins files as described above in the FAQ (now updated).

Reply #23 from Sins Forums Top
Since one of the machines I play with is only occasionally connected to the internet, is the uninstall/reinstall process going to FUBAR my registration status?

I have SDC installed on the machine, nach. - I bring an archive over.
Reply #24 from Sins Forums Top
I have SDC installed on the machine, nach. - I bring an archive over.


It should be fine, just keep the sig.bin when you get rid of beta 1.
Reply #25 from Sins Forums Top
Thanks, Kyro